Welcome to EA 251! This course is a historical survey of Chinese drama and film
with a focus on representations of gender and sexuality. From its first flowering in the thirteenth century on, Chinese drama has traditionally been an important arena for negotiations about cultural expectations regarding gender and sexuality; this tradition was continued in the “model operas” of the Cultural Revolution, and into the present in such films as Farewell My Concubine, King of Masks and Woman Demon, Human. We will pair reading of major works from the various genres which make up the Chinese dramatic tradition, and viewing of modern and contemporary films with reading of secondary scholarship in order to place these works in their historical and cultural contexts. Some of the questions we will ask are: Do the gender ideals we see reflected in works of drama challenge or affirm orthodox Confucian views? How might women have functioned as reflections of male subjectivity in works of traditional drama, and what effects might that have had on definitions of masculine and feminine? What might cross-dressing and other forms of gender bending represent during different historical junctures? And how might representations of gender in contemporary works of drama and film be inflected by representations on the traditional stage? Class sessions will be a combination of lecture and discussion. You will be required to prepare for class discussion by writing down 2-3 questions or observations suggested to you by the day’s assigned reading; these questions will be due at the end of every class session, and will be graded with a check plus, check, or check minus. No late questions will be accepted; however, you may skip this standing assignment three times during the semester with no penalty. In addition to discussion questions, there will also be three other types of writing assignments: forum entries on the films, lectures and class discussions; pre-writing assignments of 1-2 pages; and formal essays of 4-5 pages (see descriptions below.) You will also be required to do one group oral report during the course of the semester.
Learning Goals:
- Become acquainted with the historical development of Chinese drama and film.
- Gain a better understanding of how our own ideas about gender and sexuality are shaped by our society and culture as we consider the ideas about gender and sexuality reflected on the traditional stage and film in China within their social, cultural, and historical contexts.
- Hone analytical skills through close readings of dramatic and cinematic texts, and through critical readings of secondary literature on these works.
- Develop oral presentation skills.
- Improve ability to construct a clear, coherent and convincing written argument.
For the course schedule and specific readings & assignments please see our course moodle site